Universal Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Lent
-
March 2, 2026
Sunday and Feast Day Universal Prayers
Suggestions for Leading Worship
Office of Worship
P.O. Box 2028
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2028
Phone: (225) 242-0120
E-Mail: [email protected]
SAMPLE UNIVERSAL PRAYERS
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A
March 14-15, 2026
Priest: Confident that the Lord listens to all who devoutly follow him, we raise our voices to God and plead for his mercy.
Deacon (or other reader if there is no deacon):
- For all Christians, that we may live as children of light so that the works of God might be made visible through us, we pray to the Lord...
- For our world, that leaders may no longer be blind to the needs of the poor, the displaced, and the marginalized, and may grant them protection under the law, we pray to the Lord...
- Gor the unemployed and underemployed, that they may be granted the means to provide for the basic daily needs of their families, and that those who have resources may generously share them with others, we pray to the Lord…
- For our elect, that they may open their eyes to see as God sees, and thus draw closer to Jesus as they prepare to be baptized into his Church, we pray to the Lord...
- For those carrying the burden of illness, that they may experience healing at the hands of our Savior, we pray to the Lord…
- For all who have died, especially [add deceased names or “parishioners of” (add your parish name)], and the intentions of this mass [add mass intentions], may they witness the Great Light, Jesus Christ, in his eternal glory, we pray to the Lord...
- In silence, we pray for own needs and the needs of others, confident in the promise of the kingdom… [pause; the presider alone concludes…]
Priest: All-loving God, you see into the heart of each of your children and you know us as we truly are. Remove our blindness to the value and gifts of others. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
LITURGY NEWS AND NOTES:
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A
March 14-15, 2026
- A sample Penitential Invocation could be:
Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world; Lord have mercy…
Christ Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep; Christ have mercy…
Lord Jesus, you are the source of eternal life; you are the Anointed One, the Christ; Lord have mercy…
- The prayer texts are from the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
- Use the same seasonal form of the PA on each Sunday of the season.
- The Gloria is omitted. The creed is prayed. Because of its baptismal significance, consider using the Apostles’ Creed throughout Lent and Easter.
- A Lenten collect may be used or adapted to conclude the UP.
- The preface that goes with the Year A readings is found among the pages in the missal for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (“The Man Born Blind”).
- Consider using EPR-II and concluding Mass with the proper Lenten POP.
- If the scrutiny occurs, the proper prayers should be used; these Mass formularies are found in the “Ritual Masses” section of the RM, under section I – For the Conferral of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation, #2: For the Celebration of the Scrutinies, B: For the Second Scrutiny. For the actual ritual of the scrutiny itself, consult OCIA, 164-170. The scrutiny takes place after the homily.
- Taking place this week:
- St. Patrick’s Day (3/17).
- St. Joseph’s Day and the blessing of the St. Joseph Table (3/19).